Our Trip to ALBERTA, CANADA: EDMONTON

May 10, 2025

Our wake-up call today was at 6 am. After a set breakfast, we checked out of  hotel before 8:30 am. Our destination today is Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta province. The long 4-1/2 hour bus ride toward Edmonton was a quiet one, not particularly scenic. We took a short break at a Tim Horton's for snack and refreshments. Aman even played a movie starring Ryan Reynolds entitled "IF" (MY REVIEW) for those who needed entertainment. 

The Ice Palace

When we reached Edmonton, we picked up our new guide Shannon. Our first and only stop that day was the West Edmonton Mall, famous for being the second biggest mall in North America (after the Mall of the Americas in Minnesota, USA).  The exterior of the mall was rather drab, nothing too colorful nor memorable. However, when we entered the mall (via Door #32), only then did the full expansive scale of this place truly hit us. 

BRBN Street

As this was lunchtime, Shannon first took us to a section called BRBN St. (pronounced as "Bourbon St."), a row of fancy-looking restaurants. We had our lunch at a place called Moxies, noted for its upscale casual dining experience. It was only by 3 pm that our meal was concluded and we were finally released to explore the mall on our own to shop in any of their nearly 500 retail stores, for the next two hours (yes, only). 

Moxies branch at WEM

Yummy Chicken Lettuce Wrap for lunch

The West Edmonton Mall opened in September 1981 and since then had three additional phases annexed in 1983, 1985 and 1999. It held the Guinness Book record for the largest indoor mall up to 2004. To get its massive size into clearer perspective, the area of this mall was said to be equivalent to 48 city blocks! Aside from the usual stores, restaurants and movie theaters, the mall was also home to an incredible array of entertainment.

Admiring the Indoor Lake

Sea Lion awaits his order

While walking to BRBN, we already saw the Ice Palace, an ice rink used for ice hockey and other ice events. It was also hard to miss the gigantic indoor lake (a record-holder for size in its own category), which contained a seemingly life-sized replica of Christopher Columbus's ship, the Santa Maria. In another section of that same pirate-themed central display was a pool where we saw trained sea lions being rehearsed for their show. 

The Bow of the Santa Maria

The Stern of the Santa Maria

While strolling around the second floor, we chanced upon a viewing deck from which we can see the entire expanse of World Waterpark. Built in 1985, this is now the 4th largest waterpark in the world, and used to be largest in North America, until it was overtaken by DreamWorks Water Park in 2020.  Its Blue Thunder is still the largest wave pool in the world. It contained a complex collection of water slides, classified for beginners, all the way to extreme. 

The Blue Thunder

 Tangle of Water Slides

When we stepped out of IT'SUGAR candy store on the first floor, that was when I saw the path going towards Galaxyland, the second-largest indoor amusement park in the world (after Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi).  Of all the rides in there, the roller-coaster with its long twisting yellow tracks was really hard to miss, especially when you hear screams from its riders as their cars were also spinning around on their own axis while whizzing us by. 

The Galaxy Orbiter: Spinning Roller Coaster

Rainbow Bounce: Kiddy Space Shot

For dinner, we were brought to a nearby restaurant, Homefire Grill, where we savored the Thick Cut Chop (10oz boneless pork, honey-sage bannock & goat cheese crust, cranberry sauce). Afterwards, we were brought to check in at our hotel -- the Four Points Sheraton Edmonton. If we had anything left to shop for before flying back home the next day, there was fortunately a Walmart just a five minute walk away for that quick fix.

Rogers Place

Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

Edmonton Convention Center

The next morning, Shannon brought us on a city tour of Edmonton. As the bus maneuvered around numerous construction sites around the city, she identified interesting buildings along its route, like the Rogers Place, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald and the Edmonton Convention Center. She pointed out the 66-story Stantec Tower in the distance as the tallest building in the city, but I was not sure if I saw the right building. (To be completely honest, I was following the live coverage of the new Pope online at that time, so I was not paying complete attention to the tour.)

We spent a couple of hours for lunch and more last-minute shopping at the Premium Outlet Malls. This was already right there at the Edmonton International Airport (YEG), where we would take our domestic flight to Vancouver en route to home. One final interesting thing we noted in YEG was this room called the Pet Relief Room. Curiosity led us to peek inside, and we chuckled to see this patch of faux grass with a replica of a fire hydrant. 

One final view of the Rockies from the plane before landing in YVR

Our Trip to ALBERTA, CANADA: JASPER

May 10, 2025

Our wake-up call today was at 5:00 am. After a buffet breakfast at the cozy hotel restaurant, we had to check out and leave the hotel by 7:15 am. Our trusty driver Aman then took us on a smooth 2-1/2 drive out of Banff to our next destination, the Columbia Icefield. The weather forecast was a number in the negatives below zero degrees Celsius. So this was when all the serious winter jackets and gear we brought came out to be used. 

North Saskatchewan River

Parker Ridge Trailhead

As much as we wanted to sleep in the bus from travel fatigue, the amazing scenery whizzing by beside us kept us fully awake. This 230 km stretch of road between Banff National Park and Jasper National Park was called the Icefield Parkway. Along the way, our guide Pam was rattling off facts about scenes as we passed them, like Bow Lake and the Saskatchewan River Crossing. Too bad there were no photo stops along the way. 

The Ice Explorer

The Canadian Flag

The Jump Shot

From the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center, we rode another bus driven by Sam to take us to the Ice Explorer driven by Logan. The explorer was a huge all-terrain vehicle which took us at a deliberate 3 mph trudge down a steep slope between stony moraines on to the 6 km long Athabasca Glacier itself. We excitedly went around picking the best spots for regular photos or jump shots on the glacier, especially around the Canadian flag standing on the ice.  

On the Glass Walkway

Post-Skywalk Celebration

After that fun time at the glacier (though warmer than expected), Sam's bus took us to the Skywalk. This was a cliffside path with informative exhibits along the way. It culminates in a breathtaking 400 meter glass-bottomed walkway projecting outwards, 300 meters above the floor of the Sunwapta Valley below. We had our fill of snow-capped jagged mountain tops in front of us, with their lush carpeting of lodgepole pine and white spruce trees. 

Jasper Train Station

Two Brothers Totem Pole 

More Trains and Mountains

After a sumptuous lunch buffet back at the center, we headed on a 1-1/2 hour drive into Jasper town proper. We made a stop at the train station with old trains and a totem pole, where we were met by our new guide Jake. He talked at length about the major wildfire that Jasper experienced last year. Burned down pine trees were still prominently seen. We were able to see some female elk along the road, including one that bravely crossed the road. 

Lake Patricia

Lake Pyramid

An Elk Crossing the Road

During our drive, we were able to see a couple of scenic lakes around the valley. The first was  Lake Patricia, named after a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Notable about this lake was the presence of a World War II shipwreck at its bottom, which divers can visit. The second lake we saw was Lake Pyramid, whose water reflected the peak of Mount Pyramid beside it. We saw tourists on a wooden wharf on its beach sunbathing while taking in the views.

Whistler's Inn

Buying Fresh Fudge

Something Else for Dinner

After the city tour, we were taken to check into homey Whistler's Inn, located right across the train station. This place had souvenir shops all around it and we took this time to buy some goodies with humorous names like "Bear Poop" or "Moose Poop" to take home. For those who like fudge, there was a kiosk selling fresh fudge in a store called Jasper Rock and Jade. We ate dinner at a nearby restaurant with friendly staff called Something Else.  

Our Trip to ALBERTA, CANADA: BANFF

May 10, 2025

Our wake-up call this morning was 7 am.  By 8:30 am, we had already checked out of our first hotel and on the way to our next destination. 

Welcome to Banff!

Parks Canada Administration Building along Mountain Avenue 

Banff Park Museum along Banff Avenue

It was a 1-1/2 hour drive from Calgary to Banff. When our bus arrived in town, we picked up our seasoned guide, Pam. At the place where we met Pam, we were already marveling at the grand snow-capped mountain peaks surrounding us. Pam brought us first to our lunch venue, a Chinese restaurant called the Silver Dragon. In the bus, Pam told us interesting local facts, like those bridges built for animals to cross the expressway.

Welcome to Lake Louise!

The Spectacular View of the Frozen Lake

Walking on the Icy Lake

(with the thawing parts seen behind us)

Our first scenic destination was Lake Louise. This glacial lake was first "discovered" by Tom Wilson, who first named it Emerald Lake, then renamed it Lake Louise in honor of Queen Victoria's daughter who became the wife of a Canadian governor-general. When we visited, the lake was still mostly frozen, but some parts were already beginning to thaw. The temptation to walk and take photos on the scenic frozen lake was too much to resist. 

Bow Falls

View of Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel from Surprise Corner

The classic view with us in it

From the lake, we went to see the white cascading waters of Bow Falls for a photo stop. After a short stay there, we were driven a little further up along Tunnel Mountain Road to the famous viewpoint called Surprise Corner. At this seemingly nondescript stop, we got a breathtaking view of the imposing Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, the so-called "Castle of the Rockies," overlooking the pine trees of the Spray Valley and the Bow River below. Classic. 

A View from our Cable Car

On top of Sulphur Mountain!

Our next stop was the Banff Gondola. There we rode cable cars traveling up for about 10 minutes to the top of Sulphur Mountain. At the top, we were able to fully take in the fresh air and breathtaking views of the six mountain ranges surrounding it. While walking along the ridgetop walkway called the Boardwalk towards the Weather Station, I truly felt an exhilarating adrenaline rush.  This was THE ultimate Canadian Rockies experience. 

Still a Long Way to Go to the Weather Station

Meditating on the Grandeur of God's Nature

Upon returning to the town proper, we checked into our hunting-lodge-like hotel, the Banff Caribou Lodge, and had our dinner at a nearby Chili's restaurant before calling it a night. The temperature we felt this day was a comfortably cold at around 10 degrees Celsius. After hearing stories of Northern Lights sightings in town the night before from the waiter at lunch, we were also hopeful for a sighting, but alas, we had no such luck around the hotel.

Facade of the Banff Caribou Lodge

Lobby of the Banff Caribou Lodge

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POSTSCRIPT:  Before heading out of Calgary, we made a stop at a charming house in the suburbs called the Carma House. This place was one of the centers which housed Wellspring Alberta, a non-profit organization offering free non-medical support for individuals going through emotional difficulties brought about by cancer.  

The friendly facade of Carma House

Scott gives his Orientation Talk

Our group was welcomed by their manager Scott, who gave us a brief overview of their services here at the house. We were taken on a tour around their premises, which had interiors purposefully designed to be warm and cozy, with none of the cold, impersonal atmosphere one would associate with hospitals and doctors. At the end, we were all in agreement that a program like this is needed in our local setting.